The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1887-01-29
MIMIcHy IN NATURE.
Some Curious Scientific Facts ooncerniag
Many species of Butterdies.


Many species OF Butternies.
Rev. w. J. Holland, pastor Of the
Bellefeld Presbyterian Church. and one
of the most noted etymologists of the
country, has received some very rare
and valuable accessions to his already
large collection OF butterflies. The
new specimens come from China.
Japan. Africa. Switzerland and parts
of this country. One of the most in
teresting is that sent by Rev. B. G..
Henry, author of the "Cross and
Dragon" formerly of Sharpsburg. but
now missionary in the island Of
Hainau, China. Rev. Henry was the
first white man to collect insects in
that island for scientific purposes. He
has sent Rev. Mr.. Holland some five
hundred and fifty specimens of butter
flies, representing about one hundred
different species. The specimens belong
to what is known as the Siam fatuna,
and contain six species hitherto un,
known to science. q 90 -
In showing the new specimens to
reporter, MIR. Holland said: These
butterflies exemplify in striking man
ner what is known in science as MINI
icry. Let me explain. Here is male
butterfly he said, pointing to one of
the finest looking specimens, land by
its side is the female. This female
differs greatly in appearance from the
male OF her own species, but is almost
the counterpart of the male of another
species. Now that male, to which the
female is so similar in appearance, be-
longs to species that. on account of
peculiar excretions from the body,
enjoys immunity from the ravages of
birds. For some reason unknown to
science, there are certain species that
Are thus free from the attack of birds.
As the propagation of the butterfly de-
ponds principally on the female. ma
ture has provided that in those species
not favored with immunity from bird
attacks the females should resemble
the forms which enjoy this immunity.
Not only is their mimicry of other
forms Of butterfly, but of the bark of
trees, the blades of grass and other
natural objects on which the female
butterfly rests.
II have just received collection of
fifteen hundred specimens from the
west coast of tropical Africa, where
Du Chaillu started out to hunt gorillas.
The African butterflies present . great
variety of form and color. In the
Madagascar butterflies the male is con-
slant in the same species, but the
female shows as high as seven varieties
of form. This variety of form is no
doubt due to the principle of mimicry
by which the female butterfly is pro-
tected." 49, fe. ~.
"On this theory, then. the Arctic butt
terfies ought to be white" suggested
the reporter. -
The Arctic butterflies are often
white" continued Mr.. Holland. "but
not because that is the color of the
snow. In Greenland the butterflies
are the insects of the summer as well
as here. Some of our butterflies are
almost the color OF the vegetables on
which they perch and hence can scarce
ly be distinguished from their surround
ings.
TT is curious fact about the Green.
land butterfly that the same species
which here mature in forty days re-
quires in that climate over two years.
There is one species of butterfly that is
a great cosmopolits.. It is found in
China and in Pennsylvania. l refer
to the thistle butterfly. II has
followed the thistle-down all over the
world The intelligence OF butterflies
is shown in their wonderful memory.
They will fly about for hours aud then
return to the identical leaf from which
they started and go to bed. The largest
butterflies, the orthnoptera, measure
as high as eleven inches across the
wings from tip to tip" ylNit
How large collection have you
nowp" was asked.
II never keep an account of the
number of specimens. as that alone
does not make collection valuable. l
think have the most complete collec-
ton Of this country. OF the 639 speci-
mems in America north of the Rio
Grande Ihave an abundant represents
ton. But my collection is not COM
plete, nor will it be until have about
$4,000 specimens. That will be in
the days of my great-great grandson
perhaps. 81 Pittsburgh Commercial Ga
ette. -.
Manure in the Barn-Yard.